。〃

〃Six　months　for　what？〃　I　asked。

〃Six　months　for　the　projectile　to　encyst　before　the　knee　can　be　opened　safely。〃

〃I　don't　believe　it；〃　I　said。

〃Do　you　want　to　keep　your　knee；　young　man？〃

〃No；〃　I　said。

〃What？〃

〃I　want　it　cut　off；〃　I　said；　〃so　I　can　wear　a　hook　on　it。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？　A　hook？〃

〃He　is　joking；〃　said　the　house　doctor。　He　patted　my　shoulder　very　delicately。　〃He　wants　to　keep　his　knee。　This　is　a　very　brave　young　man。　He　has　been　proposed　for　the　silver　medal　of　valor。〃

〃All　my　felicitations；〃　said　the　first　captain。　He　shook　my　hand。　〃I　can　only　say　that　to　be　on　the　safe　side　you　should　wait　at　least　six　months　before　opening　such　a　knee。　You　are　wele　of　course　to　another　opinion。〃

〃Thank　you　very　much；〃　I　said。　〃I　value　your　opinion。〃

The　first　captain　looked　at　his　watch。

〃We　must　go；〃　he　said。　〃All　my　best　wishes。〃

〃All　my　best　wishes　and　many　thanks；〃　I　said。　I　shook　hands　with　the　third　doctor。　〃Capitano　Varini……Tenente　Enry；〃　and　they　all　three　went　out　of　the　room。

〃Miss　Gage；〃　I　called。　She　came　in。　〃Please　ask　the　house　doctor　to　e　back　a　minute。〃

He　came　in　holding　his　cap　and　stood　by　the　bed。　〃Did　you　wish　to　see　me？〃

〃Yes。　I　can't　wait　six　months　to　be　operated　on。　My　God；　doctor；　did　you　ever　stay　in　bed　six　months？〃

〃You　won't　be　in　bed　all　the　time。　You　must　first　have　the　wounds　exposed　to　the　sun。　Then　afterward　you　ca